Event Details
Saturday 20 September
Gates open at 10.30am
Pre-booked tickets only
For the first time, the Queen's Reading Room Festival will be held at Chatsworth, bringing together a star-studded line up of acclaimed authors, experts, actors, and literature lovers to celebrate the written word.
This year's headliners include Jilly Cooper, Helen Fielding, Jojo Moyes, Julia Quinn, Richard Osman, Celia Imrie, Peter Frankopan, Peter James, Alan Titchmarsh, Lady Anne Glenconner, Rupert Everett, Sebastian Faulks, Kristin Hannah, Robert Harris, Samantha Shannon, Sarah Winman, Joanna Cannon, Gyles Brandreth, Natasha Brown, Reeta Chakrabarti, Sarah Waters and Hallie Rubenhold, as part of a suite of world-class literary programming.
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of novelist Jane Austen, and 20 years since Chatsworth was immortalised as 'Pemberley' in Joe Wright's 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, festival-goers will be able to immerse themselves in Austen's life and legacy with a talk by Lizzie Dunford, Director of the Jane Austen's House Museum, who will bring a pop-up exhibition of Austen treasures.
There will also be the opportunity to join a tour of Chatsworth's north wing, to view the Sculpture Gallery and a selection of the literary letters and first editions preserved in the Devonshire Collections.
Festival Pass
£20 per person
Important: To attend a panel discussion with an author, expert, or special guest, or join an afternoon tea sitting, you must purchase a festival pass as well as a ticket to the event you wish to attend.
A festival pass grants access to Chatsworth's 105-acre garden, which has been cultivated over nearly 500 years. Visitors can explore glasshouses, a maze, a Victorian rock garden, production gardens, and historic water features such as the Grade I listed Cascade, Canal Pond, and Emperor Fountain.
Also included in the festival pass are pop-up theatrical performances, book signings, Regency-themed dress-up photo opportunities, and walking tours of the Chatsworth Garden.
An outdoor screen in the garden will broadcast exclusive pre-filmed content, including conversations with Gill Hornby, Ben Macintyre, David Harewood, Judi Dench, Philippa Gregory, Kamila Shamsie and more, as well as unique insights into the treasures of Windsor Castle Library.
Festival passes include free parking for one vehicle per transaction.
The festival is co-produced by The Queen's Reading Room and Chatsworth House Trust, the independent charity responsible for the preservation and development of Chatsworth. Proceeds from ticket sales will support the ongoing efforts of both charities.
What's On
Festival Headliners
View the full schedule of talks from this year's star-studded line-up.
Festival Cinema: Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Friday 19 September
Spend an evening in the Chatsworth Garden watching an open-air screening of Pride and Prejudice (2005) starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, and Chatsworth House as Pemberley.
Separate ticket required.
Afternoon Tea
Saturday 20 September
Add an elegant afternoon tea in the Old Duke's Glasshouse in the Chatsworth Garden to your festival experience.
Separate ticket required.
Festival Cinema: Sense & Sensibility (1995)
Saturday 20 September 2025
Watch Emma Thompson's captivating retelling of Austen's first novel, Sense and Sensibility, in our open-air cinema in the garden. Directed by Ang Lee, it also stars Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman.
Separate ticket required.
Festival Schedule - at a glance
Download this schedule as a PDF
Festival Entertainment & Information
Garden Entertainment
Experience garden tours, pop-up theatre performances and more with a festival pass or garden ticket.
Festival Food & Drink
Bring a picnic or buy sandwiches, snacks, light lunches, and drinks from one of our outlets.
About our talk venues
Heading to a talk? Familiarise yourself with our talk venues.
Visitor Information
Download a digital festival map or a Chatsworth grounds map, check accessibility, learn about shops and dining options, and how to get to Chatsworth.
Friends, Patrons and Passholders
At this is a third-party event, Friends, Patrons, and Passholders must also purchase a festival ticket in addition to individual talk tickets. However, you can book a complimentary member or passholder garden ticket for Saturday 20 September to experience the festival entertainment.
For further information, please contact:
Friends: friends@chatsworth.org
Patrons and Corporate Passholders: development@chatsworth.org
Estate Passholders: chatsworth.events@chatsworth.org
FAQs
View our frequently asked questions.
Please note: Please be aware that for technical, operational or safety reasons, some facilities may be removed or closed, or entertainment and event timetables cancelled and/or altered at any time, including at short notice. Chatsworth reserves the right to change the programme of attractions and entertainment if, at any time, it is deemed necessary or appropriate to do so, this may also include closing attractions or areas of the estate. We apologise in advance for any disappointment caused should this need arise.
